I must admit I was always doubtful there would be (Why would Mycroft be at John's wedding?) but I did have some hope. Still, we can come up with all sorts of stories (e.g. Mycroft can't be seen with Lestrade or else Sherlock will instantly twig) and we don't have to worry about canon getting in the way too much!

You've clearly thought this through far better than I have! It's not like I've ever let the show get in the way of my headcanon before, haha...

I don't honestly expect to see anything overtly Mystrade. It's just become so much of Thing: 8 episodes and no shared scenes (well, except for the shock blanket one) and then it being brought up at The Game Is On, etc.

You make a good point - if there were something going on, Sherlock would instantly know it if they were in the same room. I think it would be just as much fun, if not more so, to have them introduced, and one or both of them give a 2 frame long fraction of a smile that indicates some sort of interest. You know, two frames that we can obsess about for the next two years. ;) 50,000 fangirls would punch the air and shout, "YES!" Okay, well, I would. (Yes, I know he already takes orders from Mycroft. I'm not arguing this very well. Still, I'd love two frames of a quirked smile somewhere...)

I feel like this is us getting three minutes of the "Lestrade" spin off Mark and Steven wanted to write.

So... he worked a case for 18 months, got pelters in the press for the constant lack of success, finally tied it all up - and dashes off at the critical moment letting someone else get the credit, because Sherlock sent him a text?!?!?

I absolutely cannot even. Not even a little bit. Can not.

"NOT REALLY!" - Oh Greg, I love you. And I'm probably imagining it but I thought he seemed a little hurt not to have been invited to the stag night.

That blue suit does wonderful things for the silver hair...

Greg/bitter - new OTP - yes, I know he was drinking lager and I know what I typed.

Might have been John and Sherlock's day off, wasn't Greg's. Mocked by Sherlock in public, had to call for back up and make an arrest - just another day on the job...

you're not imagining it--I think he yelled at John because John didn't invite him. :(if this were the U.S., Greg would get his spin off--like Saul from Breaking Bad. Sigh.(oh--but if it were the U.S. the show would be only a tenth as good, so . . . )

Sorry, still squeeing to hard to think properly, loved every second. Some awsome Lestrade moments especially the text.Oh and the tyre kicking, gotta love that.Also Lestrade/Molly must be cannon now yes? Not all in my head? though TEH almost made me ship Sherlock/Molly.

And now more broadly speaking. Had to admit I'm still shaky on TEH, a re-watch (or 3) has brought my opinion up from "no, jut didn't do it for me", To "maybe, possibly it worked." But The Sign of Three that was just 90 minutes of pure love and amazement and why I am slightly obsesses over this show.

Also I can't express how awesome Mary is! And the best man speech, and Sherlock's reaction to being asked, and first and last vow, and sherlock and the bridesmaid or made of honour, and Molly and well all of it!

We're getting so much hardworking,warm-hearted Lestrade--I feel amazed by the riches this series. From the minisode to now. And god yes, angry!Lestrade is the sexiest thing ever. That sequence was fabulous and his devotion to Sherlock (mirroring Sherlock's to John?). I was a little miffed when he did look bumbling during the Q and A, but that's his role, isn't it? To be the sounding board, say something not quite right or ask a question--which will eventually help Sherlock focus and get it right? And he did what he needed to do to help bring the case to a close and catch the guy, so I was very happy about that.And the fact that he bailed out the lightweights. Yes. Of course. And yelled at John--so funny! There's your paternal!Lestrade, folks.There are no words for how beautiful he was in the suit, smiling. Only thing that could have been better was one dance with Mrs. Hudson--I think they would have looked great together.Well, or a dance with Sherlock or Mycroft--but I've no doubt that happened offstage. No doubt at all.Beautiful, hilarious, huge-hearted episode.

oh, really? that's ridiculous! What's Dad supposed to do when he finds his boys in the drunk tank? He should have yelled at Sherlock too! sheesh! They're lucky they got Lestrade. Mycroft would have grounded them and taken away their allowance. And Mrs. Hudson would have sent them to bed without supper. ;)

So... he worked a case for 18 months, got pelters in the press for the constant lack of success, finally tied it all up - and dashes off at the critical moment letting someone else get the credit, because Sherlock sent him a text?!?!?

I absolutely cannot even. Not even a little bit. Can not.

I was so angry on his behalf in that pre-credits sequence - not with Sherlock, but with the writers. *throws things at the screen*

and yes, he looked gorgeous, as always. and of course there should be footage of him dancing, preferably with Sherlock...

Jesus. I just went back and read that first article, the one from 18 months ago:

BANK GANG LEAVE COPS CLUELESSEXCLUSIVEby Robbie Fraser

The future of Scotland Yard's Chief is once again plunged into uncertainty after one of the most audacious robberies in the capital's history failed to provide any leads.The investigation, Detectives admit, has stalled after only a matter of day and the Forensic Science Service have been unable to furnish the investigators with any meaningful evidence.DCI Lestrade looked visibly shaken and tense in a press conference that disintigrated into a farce as he was unable to provide any meaningful answers.The lack of any worthwhile leads is a cause for serious embarrassment for the Yard, and Lestrade is bearing the public brunt of this utter failure.The taxpayer-funded shambles is another slap to the public face, as career criminals can walk in and out of banks, taking our money with impunity.While any decent citizen would expect the Police Force to deal with such a massive crime with an iron determination and winged speed, the sordid truth is that they are not fit for purpose.As the Police scramble blindly for more clues, the perpetrators of this daring heist are tonight laughing into their champers, quaffing their caviar between chortles of mirth, splitting their sides at the utter ineptitude of DCI Lestrade and his team.To measure it in football terms, this lot are Accrington Stanley. Who are they? Exactly!After the shambolic press conference, we got in touch with the lily-livered keystone cops to try and find out for you, our readers, what exactly was going to be done about this criminal blight.And they did get back to us. You won't believe what they said."We are unsure as to our next move."

That is brutal. And that means that Lestrade got promoted within six months of the Fall, I guess?

He did get a promotion... and then got a demotion and went back down to DI.

The end credits are wrong.

I can't believe he would get promoted after the events of the Fall and before Sherlock is exonerated but that said, the article is very clear about him being in charge (and responsible) for the Waters Gang investigation.

Maybe he got demoted for massive misuse of police resources to a hoax call in Baker Street or when Jones took all the credit for finally catching the Waters Gang in the act? Or worse, maybe when they cleared Sherlock they gave him the credit for all of Lestrade's record (much like Anderson did) and took back the promotion on those grounds!

I tend to agree with you, because if I remember correctly, he was still listed in the first episode's credits as a DI. Unless yeah, he got promoted within six months and then demoted in the next 18, before the events of The Empty Hearse occurred.

After Sherlock's "death," there likely was quite the investigation into Lestrade's cases. Be being a good copper, he would have followed proper procedures in closing the cases on which Sherlock assisted. Validating Sherlock's deductions investigative leg work, maintaining chain of evidence, etc. The cases had to stand up in court. Because of that good police work (and perhaps as a political move by the Yard to show that no, they're not dependent on Sherlock Holmes), Lestrade was promoted. (Mycroft, of course, exerted absolutely no influence what so ever.)

I think the Waters gang is still at large, but I can't see Lestrade getting demoted for not (yet) catching them even if he did run off to help Sherlock in the middle of the (attempted) bust. The duration and scope of the crimes speak to an investigation larger than one DCI. The fact that Lestrade can command such a response to Baker St. (no other address, just "Baker St.") on such short notice speaks to some level authority on his part and some degree of importance that Sherlock's worth protecting. Though for such a false alarm... yeah, some higher ups will be a bit pissed. Maybe Sherlock actually makes some sort of apology? He has changed. (Mycroft, of course, exerted absolutely no influence what so ever.)

Besides, Lestrade is dressing up *much* nicer this season.

What I'm afraid of is this series the writers are making this Lestrade into the bumbling idiot as the character is often portrayed. (That Sherlock still can't/won't remember Greg's name is only slightly amusing. Its really more insulting to someone who has done so much for him). Here's hoping Greg gets a bit more credit in this Sunday's episode.

Well don't I feel a complete numpty for NOT noticing that our lovely DI is now a DCI...I'm going to sit on the naughty step for a while now.

I did however notice...the angry Lestrade, the blue-suit Lestrade, the 'I'll always be there for you, Sherlock' Lestrade, the running Lestrade and the 'I play football so I can give my car tyres a proper kicking' Lestrade, and I LOVED them all.

I just wish he had, had somebody at the wedding because he looked a little lonely and sad and like he wanted to be elsewhere.

The article calls him DCI but he's still listed in the end credits as "DI Lestrade" so unless he got swiftly demoted again after calling a bunch of backup to Baker Street for no reason, I genuinely think it's a mistake. Why would he get promoted after the Fall but before Sherlock's name was cleared?

And it's no less brutal than the newspaper articles in the Casebook - the press have always been horrid to Lestrade in the Sherlock-verse. :(

I found it interesting that the ep started with Lestrade clearly stating that he'll always be here for Sherlock and ended with Sherlock explicitly saying he'll always be here for the Watson family. Sherlock may have learnt how to be a good man and the best of friends, but he did from the best of examples!

The "still hasn't memorized Greg's name" nearly irritated the hell out of me, I must say. Met Tom once and can remember his name? Met that bridesmaid once and ditto? Has worked with Greg for six years now, taken a jump for him, been hugged and forgiven gloriously, and still deletes the man's first name? Please. Oh well, I'll cling to my "doesn't want to call paternal!Lestrade by his first name because that's not what sons do at least according to his traditional upbringing" theory.

But yes, I loved the pre-credit scenes. I love them all the more because they proved that L is perfectly capable of solving a difficult case on his own, even if it takes him more time, and that he doesn't yell for Sherlock's help every time he has a difficult case on his hands, unless there's a killer around and lives are threatened, which wasn't apparently the case.

And I loved Greg's tender smile when watching John and Mary dance. He may be alone and divorced, but it hasn't made him one wit resentful of others' happiness. (I wish we could have seen him dance, though. With Molly or Mrs H.)

Now we know all about Mrs H's doomed marital romance and possible bright future (is that Mr Satterjee she was with? did they solve the little matter of his two wives?), he's the only supporting character whose sentimental life hasn't been showcased. I wonder if the writers are keeping some material up their sleeves...

Yeah the name thing is wearing thin now - if they don't give us a good reason for it or redeem it in some way in Ep3 then I'll definitely be annoyed. I get the canon-joke that he was only ever G Lestrade so Sherlock at least gets the initial right (Graham, Gavin, Geoff) but when Sherlock is meant to be all about the details it's stretching credulity a bit just for the sake of a cheap laugh.

About the appearent non- knowledge of Geg's name, I think at "Graham" Sherlock really had only a faint idea of how Lestrade is called, but at 'Kevin" and "Jeff" he is doing it deliberatelly. Or at least he is stepping towards the direction of openly considering him a friend, friends call eachother on their given names, don't they? And he is trying...

Anyway, I can imagine that sometime in the future Sherlock carelessly calles him "Greg" and Lestrade would say the ah-so-familiar "No, it's Greg" reply, and then realise that Sherlock knowes his name and it is weird and something's up...So much potential :)